Spring has drawn us back into the garden earlier and earlier every day. Vegetable seedlings have sprouted. There are two types of cucumber, beetroot, new season spinach & lettuce, chili, capsicum, and okra just to name a few.
It looks like Norm will see and taste his first oranges from the farm this year as well. Snap peas, spring onions, leeks, and broad beans just keep producing day after day.
Archived in: 🦋 Down on the Farm
Spring has Sprung with a burst of sunshine. Do you remember my post: https://riversidepeace.com/2023/08/28/late-august-wind-brought-out-a-nice-surprise/ ? This Sunflower is now greeting the Spring sunny mornings with a big smile.
Seedlings are up and the bulbs are finally opening. The irises are a little slow but they’ll be out any day now.
And – the white climbing rose bush has come alive and blooming.
Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden
We had this candle holder sitting on our occasional table since we moved into our home in December 2019. I have decorated it at Christmas or placed an unlit candle in it but usually it just sits. After seeing terrariums and their ridiculous prices at nurseries, Bunning, etc., I decided to put my creativity side to good use. What do you think? Be honest.
Archived: 🦋 I’m in the Garden
Late August winds have wreaked havoc in the garden over the past week. We found this very bold sunflower lying across the concrete seat in the garden. Tired loosely, for now, its height surprised us.
This is going to be a big flower. It grew from a dropped seed from somewhere.
Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden
Except for the apple and pear trees, buds and/or new growth is evident.
Strawberries and Blueberries. Can’t wait for the first harvest.
Seedlings sprouting.
Archived in: 🦋 Down on the Farm
I knew before I left the recovery ward that the surgery wasn’t as easy as expected. But then, there were no guarantees before I went in. Today the surgeon showed me the film he took inside my knee. The meniscus was torn and brittle beyond recognition. Only a tiny section at the rear was left behind. The knee joint resembled a nanny goat’s beard in full growth. It looked like it needed a shave. The video was fast-forwarded for a few minutes showing the “shaving”. There is a LOT of arthritis. My knee is still yellow purple and green… inside too apparently. Too bruised and stressed for more surgery too soon.
I have another appointment in 4 weeks when he suspects he will then send me for another x-ray to see how things are recovering. As for a knee replacement in the near future. Who knows. I’m surprised It’s not already booked but after his explanation and watching my video, I’ll just have to wait.
In the meantime, I’ll be on pain medication and will be using a walking stick to prevent any further stress on the joint.
Early Spring flowers in the front and rear garden have added bright colours here and there. My herb seeds and seedlings are doing great. I’m excited about including medicinal herbs this year.
A couple of the fruit trees and shrubs look promising. Bottom photos: Tabpoles and frog ponds are ready for occupancy.
Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden
From the Archives: Faith’s Adventure – All 8 Stories
Faith to the Rescue
Faith Loses a Friend
Faith Goes on a Holiday
Faith’s Christmas Surprise
Faith’s Close Encounter
Faith’s Discovery
Faith Becomes a Mother
Faith – That’s my Blue Eye
Partly true, partly fictional. 8 very short stories about Ken and his dog faith. Suitable for all ages. Please note: story “Faith Loses a Friend” may need parental guidance for younger children.
Archived in: 🦋 Teen Reading 
Short Fiction
I’m home after my laparoscopic knee surgery yesterday. Unfortunately, the damage and arthritis are worse than anticipated from MRI, X-ray, and surgeon’s initial consultation. The laparoscope was not in vain and the surgeon was able to see what the knee re-placement will entail. The removal of the torn meniscus and bone fragments and the bone scrapping of the jagged bone should relieve the pain I have been experiencing. I’ll have more information after my next appointment in 10 days to have stitches removed.
Archived in: 🦋 Updates & Announcements
I came across a USB with the drawings I had published among my poems and reflections in my book Glimpses of His Glory. I thought I would share them here in case I lose them again.
Archived in: 🦋 Updates & Announcements
A quiet afternoon in the garden until these visitors arrived.
It was still beautiful.
Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden
We enjoyed our own fresh-from-the-garden greens over the weekend. There were various varieties of spinach and lettuce. Plus snap peas that we picked as needed.
A few late winter crop surprises doing nicely. – Maybe in a few weeks they’ll be ready.
It’s great to have some of our home-grown vegetables again. The past few months have left us buying mostly from the grocery stores which are not as fresh nor do they have any flavour.
Archived in: 🦋 Down on the Farm
We spent a few quiet days up the coast late last week in Coffs Harbour.
Above and below are photos we took on our early morning walks.
And below: the photos were taken at the Japanese Garden in the North Coast Regional Botanic Garden.
North Coast Regional Botanic Garden – Coffs Harbour
Archived in: 🦋 Travel & Retirement
After a few dark and gloomy wintery weeks, we finally braved a morning in the garden and it was good to feel the warmth of the sun. We harvested a variety of lettuce and spinach which hasn’t happened for over a month. Snap peas are looking promising for next week’s menu.
Norm pampered the fruit trees: Apple, pear, avocado, orange, and mango as well as the bay and elderberry trees. We repotted the blueberries and potted two raspberry shrubs – which I forgot to take photos of.
Archived in: 🦋 Down on the Farm
Happy Anniversary with WordPress.com!You registered on WordPress.com 10 years ago. Thanks for flying with us. Keep up the good blogging.
This is Nemo a few weeks ago. He had developed a tumor and needed to be regularly accessed.
Sadly, with his poor prognosis, he needed to be euthanased. A neighbour painted this rock to be placed on his grave.
He’ll be always remembered thanks to Maggie.
Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden
A pleasant Kings Birthday long weekend found us mostly in the garden. Norm trimmed and prepared the fruit trees for the winter. They were quite late losing their leaves. We now have elderberry, bay, avocado, mango, apple, pear, and a dwarf orange tree – all growing well.
The winter vegetables are slow this year following a strange Autumn. Spinach and carrots are in steady supply with some all-year-round lettuce ready to harvest every weekend.
Archived in: 🦋 Down on the Farm
Norm is slowly using the creative side of his brain and coming up with some interesting ideas. This week it’s a frog hotel for the back corner garden.
A few pipes and pots from Bunnings, sand, and a few river rocks.
I dug up a small Mondo Grass and divided it into 3 pieces. As you can see below, he did quite a nice job. Next week’s project is a tadpole pond – seen partly installed to the right of our water feature.
Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden
The Poinciana is almost bare and early bulbs are breaking the topsoil.
Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden
An early morning hour in the front garden stimulates the imagination – and is a whole lot of fun.
A tidy up here and a touch of paint there.
If you don’t have water, create it. I tossed a few packets of lobelia seeds in for good measure.
We bought these two delightful blue mushroom solar lights today at Bunnings and added a little more creativity.
Not fully charged yet, but still looks pretty.
Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden
Four days away in Coffs Harbour was relaxing and fun. On the final day, we took a walk down to Charlesworth Bay for a beach-combing expedition. The sun was bright and the breeze warm. A truly beautiful autumn day.
Archived in: 🦋 Travel & Retirement
I’m loving our growing edible garden. The Elderflower tea was beautiful. Next year I’ll allow the best flowering sprigs to mature into berries.
Photo by Chrissy
Archived in:🦋 I’m in the Garden
Yesterday, May 9th here in Australia, we had a “surprise” visit from our eldest daughter Cyline, eldest grandson Evan and one of Norm’s nieces and her husband Andrew. They all live over 2 hours away so it was an unexpected visit by Norm who turned 70. I knew about it but not the details. It was difficult to keep Norm at home and away from his BBQ kitchen without explaining why. He had even suggest we went to Bunnings. When I declined he said he could go alone. Bunnings would have been a dead giveaway because they had all met up in the Bunnings car-park just 2 minutes away before all driving in together. Oh yes, and they brought all the food and the caramel birthday cake – Norm’s favourite kind of cake.
Archived in: 🦋 Travel & Retirement
Last week I promised to explain why the outdoor kitchen divider was in front of the clothes line. The past 10 days have been rather busy and messy around here. These photos will show the work we have had done on our long undercover driveway and the footpath on the other side of the house.
First was the repair and grind.
Then a sand. The foot path on the other side was also repaired grind and sanded too.
The prep and first coat of cement rendering took quite a while to dry and giving a few days to blend.
The second cement render took another day and a half before Jake the tradesman could walk on it to roll the first sealing coat. We decided on the roll-on instead of spray because of the close proximity of neighbours and also it would be 3 years before a reseal instead of 1 year with the spray.
The final coat of the sealer went on 3 days ago. 1 more day before the sealant will have had time to cure. Once it’s cured we can start washing the dust off the walls and side gardens. It will be another 3 weeks before we can start placing things like the divider and herb pots back in place. Then it will be ready to bring the car back in. Climbing over the gnomes in the front or out the backdoor, past the clothesline into next door to use the neighbours footpath is not fun but it will be all worth it.
Archived in: 🦋 Retirement & Travel
Autumn is still beautiful on the mid-north coast.
Rear corner of back verandah.
From the garden.
and again from the garden.
Another view of the back corner.
Looks like there will be dozens of blooms this year.
This last photo shows the outdoor kitchen divider in front of the clothes line. Next week, I’ll reveal why.
Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden
For a garden that’s now mostly, vegetables, herbs and fruit trees, there’s still a few bright colours to blend with the green.
Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden
With the change of cooler weather comes the removal of almost all that remains of the Summer/Autumn crops. We have spent a busy two days in the garden planting winter seeds and seedlings. This includes – all year lettuce mix, a mixed variety of spinach, broad beans, cauliflower, broccoli, brussel sprouts, carrots, leeks and onions. There’s still plenty of okra flowers growing so I left that in. There’s a corn cob or two left and a few cucumbers on their vines. They’ll be pulled out soon to make room for what we hope will be a bumper crop this year.
Archived in: 🦋 Down on the Farm
Reverend David Curtis passed away on Friday 14th April shortly before 9am. David will be sadly missed by everyone at St Thomas Anglican Church Port Macquarie. He has been part of the pastoral care team I coordinate. David’s wisdom and experience he brought to the team has always been appreciated as too his willingness to do end-of-life and palliative care visits for me. David was also much involved with prayer and healing ministries.
Please check out his blog – David Curtis
Tradies came to replace our back guttering.
All our potted herbs had to be temporarily relocated.
It was a good opportunity to re-pot or top up pots with fresh soil.
Archived in: 🦋 Down on the Farm
If you can find my photos of the elderberry I potted when it just 40 cm high, I would be grateful. It should be somewhere in 🦋 I’m in the Garden archives but I can’t see it. It’s photographed with my other potted herbs. So late last year we re-potted it and it’s growing beautifully.
Now it’s taller than me and covered in blooms. Very strange because it should flower in early Summer. It’s Autumn here in Australia.
Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden
Although I love the rain and warm summer days the high temperatures on the current between days of rain is not quite the Autumn I’m use to. The Poinciana is still covered in green leaves and the water in the fish pond feels more like a hot tub.
There’s one thing that I do enjoy in this crazy weather and that is the variety of green that is seen from, and in every corner of the garden. The birds too a hanging around longer than usual and as for our vegetables, they just keep growing leaving no room to plant winter crops.
I’m left wondering what I’ll be doing in the garden once the season does change.
Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden
The hot weather in March and recent rains has turned our verandah into a high humidity zone.
Everything is flourishing.
It’s a good time to plant something new into some pretty pots I found.
There’s never too many plants.
Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden
Today is my birthday so I decided I would have to better last year’s swimming with dolphins outing.
Port Stephens N.S.W. has a Shark & Ray Rescue Centre but now they also have a butterfly room.
Injured and surrendered reptiles are also a new additions.
There’s also an out walk-in bird aviary which also has a turtle pond. Unfortunately, the water was stirred up with heavy raindrops. So no turtle photos in the pond. However, this cheeky one decided he liked to sit on my head.
Archived in: 🦋 Travel & Retirement
Yesterday’s Pottering
….and the farm is thriving even though the nights are cooling.
My new work area is the perfect place to potter and plant Autumn and Winter crops from seeds and seedlings. Home grown vegetables and herbs all year round.
Archived in: 🦋 Down on the Farm
It’s finally Autumn and it is most noticeable in the evening with the warmth of the day fading with the going down of the sun.
When the phone is useless in this beautiful light
that reflects off the colours in the garden.
but it will all fade by the time I find the camera and set it up.
Maybe another evening when I’m more prepared. For now, I’ll just relax in the peace of the garden.
Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden
Working on the farm can be a workout when I need to keep going to the other end of the farm to grab tools or trugs etc. Today I decided to tidy a messy corner and use it as my farm work place.
I’ll be able to plant seeds into pots. When the seedlings are big enough to handle the transplanting, I’ll be able to move them easily.
A place to keep the soil bin, trugs, buckets, and farm tools.
In easy reach of the worm farm and compost barrel.
Archived in: 🦋 Down on the Farm
With a lot of succulents pieces blown off the main plants by the windy weather I decided to do something creative. If you are anything like me as a gardener, I don’t like throwing anything away and these tiny hanging pots came up a treat with a bit of paint.
Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden
This poem was written in October 2022 by my friend Hannah after the death of a nine-month-old boy who, with his family attended the congregation Hannah attends. With the permission from Hannah, and Aguin’s family, I’m honoured to share the poem on Riverside Peace.
The Loss of Aguin
Please don’t say, “It can’t hurt that bad,”
When I speak of Joy in pain.
Nor, “She can’t have loved him much,”
When I speak of Peace the same.
No. The grief, it burns like fire:
Searing my heart.
Numbing my mind.
Dulling my senses.
Dead.
My son is dead.
His body in the ground.
And off with him go fifty years
Of watching him grow,
Making him laugh,
Holding his child…
Fifty years I’ll never see,
For nine months in, he went to be
With the One who made him –
Far from me…
Oh, help! The grief! It burns like fire,
Searing the heart,
Numbing the mind,
Dulling the senses.
… Dead…
Peace. Quiet, gentle Peace,
With powerful force I can’t comprehend,
Trickles through the smokey blackness
And holds me.
I hurt.
I’m numb.
I hurt.
By turns –
Around and around, it goes.
But, never shaking,
Never changing,
Always remaining a wall around me,
His Peace never lets me go.
And Joy?
How can I think of joy,
Much less claim it to be mine?
Ach, this Joy – it almost aches;
And I am sure it cries.
It’s as close a cousin to ‘sad’ as ‘happy’,
For it knows depth,
It knows meaning,
It knows hurt…
And it knows hope, of the confident kind.
Ah, the grief… it burns like fire.
Searing my heart.
Numbing my mind.
Dulling my senses…
Yes. It burns.
But it won’t consume.
For, wrapped in His Peace
Touched by His Joy,
Sustained by His Love,
We know what He has promised…
“And He who promised is faithful.”
Amen
Archived in: 🦋 Christian Reads
The spinach just keeps growing. Even with a daily harvest there’s plenty for everyone in the street and local friends.
Little yellow tomatoes are always plentiful. There’s often so many of them that they fall to the ground in bunches. The kitchen window is just perfect for ripening of any fallen crop.
Cucumbers just get bigger and bigger. The first cucumber of the season we needed to cut it into 3 and share with neighbours.
Herbs are always on hand for indoor and outdoor cooking.
Our second crop of lettuce love the hot days and late in the day watering. Rain over night is even better.
Our quarterly water bill was surprisingly acceptable with vegetable and herbs needing a spray when we have days without rain.
Archived in: 🦋 Down on the Farm
With January being the hottest month of the year, it’s often difficult to choose the right day – a cooler day, to mulch the front garden and the garden that runs the length of the carport. Most other seasons don’t work with the front garden and after the Christmas lights a packed away for another year, it really is the best time. For us anyway. We started laying mulch this time from the rear of the drive and worked forward to the front of the house. We did this simply because we always run out of mulch for that far end of the drive when we do the front garden first. However, just as we finished along the drive it began to rain and continued most of the day. Good for the garden but not while gardening. At least it gave us a break and some time to plan how to tackle the front garden.
We started early to avoid the heat of the day and the rain that threatened to change our plans yet again. Overcast but not to hot, not to cold. The rain held off long enough to complete the whole front garden. We even had time to go to Bunnings for a few extra shrubs to fill empty spaces along the white picket fence. I also rehoused the new gnomes we bought on a clearance pallet just after Christmas. I’m quite pleased how it all looks now.
Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden
I actually started in December when I made Birthday cards for three family members and a friend who have their birthdays in the first few weeks of January. Now I’ve completed a few of each – male, female and a couple of children’s cards – although I’m yet to make and cards for the younger boys. Our eldest grandson will be 18 in February but he loves penguins. I do have a shop bought card with a photo of a group of penguins on the front so I might give him that one. Does anyone know if a “group” of penguins is correct or is there another name?
Archived in: 🦋 Travel & Retirement
Our new photos taken by friends who came to celebrate our 42nd Anniversary with us.
Paul & Catherine have been friends for many years. The flowers, wine and candle in the last photo were delivered just after noon and just before our friends arrived. Norm is still the romantic.
Archived in: 🦋 Updates & Announcements
What more can I say?
Only that we don’t have a more recent photo. Perhaps later today after an anniversary lunch with old friends.
Archived in: 🦋 Updates & Announcements
After a chilly start to Summer the farm is looking green and healthy again. We have a variety of lettuce, small yellow tomatoes, two varieties of cucumber, spinach, blueberries, dwarf beans, capsicum, and the last of the spring onions. This summer I have planted chives, sage and thyme among the vegetables. The rest of the herbs are thriving in the outdoor kitchen area. (Not included here) and I have forgotten the two strawberry pots again that are still producing after three years. I’ll try and remember them for Down on the Farm #10.
Archived in: 🦋 Down on the Farm
Our Avocado Tree has a small avo on it. I doubt it will be edible since the tree is maybe only 3 years old.
We planted a pear and apple tree today.
Top left is the Avocado tree. Top right is the Pear tree. Below is the Apple tree.
Archived in: 🦋 Down on the Farm
Here are some more photos of our week’s holiday in the Hunter Valley.
Archived in: 🦋 Travel & Retirement
After doing a little grocery shopping this morning we decided to head back to Harrigan’s for lunch before visiting the Cider House. Thankfully we were sheltered by the hot sun while we shared a paddle of three tasting size ciders and the taste of a local red wine.
The cheese platter was delicious and made to fit our taste and my allergies.
This child size house looked so adorable.
It was empty so we supposed it was for children to visit while their parents tasted.
Archived in: 🦋 Travel & Retirement
Hunter Valley looking beautifully green and lush. We visited here many times but there’s always some thing new to see. Today was no different. We took a wrong turn and discovered Mount Pleasant. It’s so peaceful and the views go on and on; no matter which direction we looked.
Tonight we dine at Harrigan’s Irish Pub in the Hunter Valley with with our daughter, son-in-law and three teenage grandchildren.
Archived in: 🦋 Travel & Retirement
Even after everyone in the avenue received a share in this morning’s harvest we still have more greens and herbs than we can eat. 🙂 Locals, beware you could be increasing your greens intake very soon. 🙂
Archived in: 🦋 Down on the Farm
Sorry, this is blurred. I took the photo from inside the back door with my phone. We put up the Lorikeet box just a few days ago. This pair actually put their head inside but were more interested in eating. We’re hoping a second visit will happen soon but not perhaps one of the many other Lorikeet pairs who visit the garden will find this new house to be so tempting they’ll move in.
Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden
Riverside Peace 
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